Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-12
HAPPY LITTLE ron.
re Missed Kris kriBgie, but finds a
NONE. ANA Home I'm New York.
fHersld.1

HERALD
al was not bit afIaid-that Is, alter
the second or third day." said brave little
Anton Hartl. who arrived here ON Satur.
dsy on board the steamer Rotterdam from
the Holland city OF that name. lie Is only
six aud hall years old and small for his
axe, although by no means pupy, aud yet
be made The journey from Munich to Rot
terdam, and from Rotterdam to New YORK
all by himself.
Little Anton, while sufficiently bright
and intelligent to take care OF himself, even
on such long trip as this, Is somewhat
afflicted by bashfulness, and thus the inter
view, which was conducted through bis
mother, who acted as interpreter, seemed
at first almost an impossibility. But the
little fellow gained confidence by degrees.
and after awhile told 6uently OF his eXpe-
riepee Of travel both by land and sea.
al was a little afraid OF the ship for the
6rst two or three days." he said, " because
she rolled so. but after got used TO 1t |
didn't mind il at all. can't tell YOU how
the ship rolled, but Il was like this" and
here the little fellow swayed his body 10
and fro. staggering like drunken man,
and swinging his arms about as il in the
effort 10 preserve his balance.
EVERYBODY KIND TO HIN.
"Eyerybody was very kind and good 10
me. slept in the same room-an arfui
little room, too-with four gentlemen, and
in The morning a lady washed me. 1 al
ways dressed myself. Sometimes one OF the
gentlemen took me up on the deck and we
walked there together, but most OF the time
| STAYED in the cabin. All was sorry for
was that missed my Christmas. | asked
one OF the gentlemen whether Kris
kringle ever came on board OF ships to
give things TO little boys, and he told me he
did not think he did, because he could not
bring his sleigh aud his RENDERS out on
the rough sea. But IL ! did not get any
TOYS got lots Of money from the gentle
men, and the one that told me about Kris
Kringle gave me Switzer silver piece.
Then, besides this, had big Christmas
dinner. There was meat and fish and po-
tatoes and bread and butter, and lot oil
other things / cannot remember, and cakes
ana jeliies, and one gentleman gave me a
glass OF beer.
"Wben landed in New York | began
TO be afraid my mother would not meet me.
but at the place where they took me there
were several nice gentlemen who gave me
lot Of money. / put 1t all safe in nv
pocket and gave IL to my mother. While
was waiting for my mother 10 come Inear-
w cred, but was too proud TO do that"
"He was waiting for me in that re,tau-
rant down town for over three hours"
said Mrs. TIartl, who Is a plump and come
" Young woman OF about twenty-five, with
a typical German face which beamed with
smiles while she talked to her recover ed
child. ole is brave little fellow. i
hardly knew him when | saw him, for
when left him in Germany he was barely
three years old, and three years make a
good deal OF difference in children. But he
knew me; and the minute he rushed into
my arms I knew him rs my own little
boy"
MRS. HARTI's STORY.
Mrs. Hartl speaks English with marked
German accent. Her story is much like
that OF hosts Of her couDtrywOmen. Hell
parents were poor but respectable, and heI
education was necessarily limited, so that
when she went out into the world to carr
her own living she was fitted tor nothing
higher than the position OF "A domestic. Al
an early age she married young butcher
in Munich, the sole offspring Of the union
being little Anton, and for time they
lived happily together.
But when Anton was about three years
old hard times began fer The young couple
and Mrs. Hartl, who was in correspondence
with friends In this country and heard from
them glowing accounts OF the New World
resolved 10 visit 1t in The hope OF lettering
her cond1tiOn. She soon secured position
with German family on SiXty-ninth street
in whose employ she still remains, and in
the course Of time saved money enough to
send for her boy.
Through Mr.. John Scheidt, OF No. LIS
Graham avenue, Brooklyn, she procured 3
passage on the Rotterdam for her child,
but as that vessel sails from ROttC rdam-
the boy was living with his fathers sister
In Munich there was some difficulty IN
making The arrangements. Finally they
were made, however, and on December 22d
Young Anton, with placard tied around
his neck giving his name, age, and place oil
destination, was put on train at Munich
and safely reached Rotterdam. There q
watchiul agent OF the steamship company
met him and put him on board the steamer,
and the rest Of his journey was plain sail
ing. Ills fare was S25.
Little Anton has put the money given Ia
him by the sympathetic gentlemen on the
steamer and in the restaurant after he
landed into toy safe, and his mother say,
that the So, with such additions as she can
make from her. frugal earnings, will one
day make him a good nest.egg. To-day be
is 10 begin his education in English at the
Parish school OF st. Joseph's church,
Eighty first street and First ayenue.
- like New York better than Munich,
said little Anton as the reporter took his
leave, land / don't want TO go back
again."